Oracle by Example brandingOracle Application Express 18: Quick SQL (1 of 2) - Accessing Samples

section 0Before You Begin

This 10-minute tutorial shows you how to access Quick SQL and how to access and use the available samples in Oracle Application Express 18.

This is the first tutorial in Oracle Application Express 18: Quick SQL series. Read the tutorials in sequence.

Background

Oracle Application Express is a rapid web application development tool for the Oracle Database. Using only a web browser and limited programming experience, you can develop and deploy professional applications that are both fast and secure. Oracle Application Express is available with the Oracle Database, whether it's on-premises or in the Oracle Cloud.

Quick SQL in Oracle Application Express Release 18 is a quick way to develop a script for simple tables and views. You can quickly generate the SQL required to create a relational data model from an indented text document. Quick SQL reduces your time and effort required to create SQL tables, triggers, and index structures.

What Do You Need?

  • Access to Oracle Application Express Release 18.1 or later.

Accessing Your Development Environment

How you sign in and access Oracle Application Express depends upon where Oracle Application Express resides. Oracle Application Express may reside in a local on-premises Oracle Database or in a hosted environment, such as the Oracle Cloud. The sign in credentials you use to sign in differ depending upon the installation type.

  • Free Workspace: Give Oracle Application Express a test run by signing up for a free workspace. To request an evaluation workspace, go to apex.oracle.com, and click Get Started for Free.
  • Oracle Cloud: Develop and deploy applications without worrying about infrastructure, repair, and downtime. Oracle Application Express is available in Exadata Express Cloud Service and Database Cloud Service. However, you need to manually customize your databases to install and enable Oracle Application Express. To learn more, see Oracle Database Cloud Service.
  • Oracle Application Express On-premises: Install Oracle Application Express directly within any Oracle Database and then sign in to your workspace using your sign in credentials. For details on your sign in credentials, contact your administrator or see Oracle Application Express Installation Guide.
  • Oracle Application Express Pre-Built VM: Install a Pre-Built Virtual Machine (VM) which includes an Oracle Database and Oracle Application Express 18. To learn more, see Hands-On Labs.
    • Click the big red circle labeled Start .
    • Click the APEX shortcut, or enter the following URL: http://localhost:8080/ords/f?p=4550:1
    • When prompted to sign in, enter the sign in credentials (unless given other credentials to use):
      • Workspace: obe
      • Username: obe
      • Password: oracle

    Note your Application ID may be different when compared to the screenshots in this tutorial. Your Application ID is assigned automatically when you create the application.

section 1Access Quick SQL

Quick SQL reduces the time and effort to create SQL tables, triggers, and index structures. To access the Quick SQL page, follow the steps below:

  1. Sign in to your development environment.
  2. From the Oracle Application Express home page, click SQL Workshop.
    SQL Workshop
    Description of the illustration sql_workshop.png
  3. Click Utilities.
  4. Click Quick SQL.
    Quick SQL
    Description of the illustration quicksql.png

    You now have access to Quick SQL page.

    Quick SQL Page
    Description of the illustration quicksql_page.png

section 2Access the Available Samples

Quick SQL samples assist you to understand how to use Quick SQL Shorthand syntax to develop a script for simple tables and views. To access and load an available sample - Project Management, follow the steps below:

  1. Click Samples in the Quick SQL page. The Samples page appears.
    Samples
    Description of the illustration samples.png
  2. Click Load Model next to Project Management.
    Load Project Management Sample
    Description of the illustration load_model.png

    The sample model displays in the Quick SQL Shorthand pane.

  3. Review the Quick SQL Shorthand pane and the generated SQL that appears in Oracle SQL Output pane.

    To view the Project Management sample code, click here.

    SQL Shorthand Project Management Sample
    Description of the illustration sql_shorthand_sample.png

    This shorthand example:

    • Creates a parent project table with four child tables: milestones, links, attachements, and action items
    • /check generates a column check constraint for space delimited values.
    • When generating data, /values generates a random value of available values. Repeating a value will increase its chances of being randomly selected.
    • /history maintains history of changes to milestones table.
    • The #options override any application settings.
      • apex populates audit information using the application user if available.
      • auditcols: true will generate audit columns per table.

next stepNext Tutorial

Oracle Application Express 18: Quick SQL (2 of 2) - Creating a Script

more informationWant to Learn More?